Poison-bottle stopper



No. 625,272. Patented May 16, l899.'

J. H. MAHAN. POISON BOTTLE STOPPEB.

A nmioi filed Nov. 2, 159a.

(Nu Nodal.)

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Wbinesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY MAI'IAN, OF MIOHAELSVILLE, MARYLAND, ASSIGN OR OF FIFTY ONE ONE-HUNDREDTIIS TO O. BAKER CLOTWORTHY AND GEORGE W. EVANS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

POISON-BOTTLE STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,272, dated May 16, 1899.

Application filed November 2, 1898. Serial No. 695,275. '(No model.)

To (All whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY MAHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Michaelsville, in the county of I-larford and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Poison-Bottle Stoppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a bottle for poisons.

The object of the invention is to provide a bottle with astopper of such construction that the attempt to withdraw or remove the stopper will serve to warn the person who makes the attempt that special caution or circum- I 5 spection is necessary.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the upper portion of a bottle and stopper, showing my invention. Fig. 2 shows a perspective and also a bottom view of the supplemental stopper. Fig. 3 is a perspective top view of the primary stopper. Fig. 4 shows a modification in the form of the supplemental stopper,

the same being in section; and Fig. 5 shows the primary stopper in position below the supplemental stopper.

It is to be understood that the bottle to which my invention is applied may have an 0 shape, design, or size.

The mouth-opening a of the bottle is preferably slightly tapering, so that the stoppers will wedge as they enter. A primary stopper h and a supplemental stopper 0 are em- 3 5 ployed,and both fit snugly in the mouth-opening. The primary stopper has a stem d proj ecting straight up from its upper side. This stem may be made of any suitable material. In the drawings it is shown as made of a douo ble wire twisted. This stopper is the one that is to be inserted first into the mouth-opening a. It should set well down in the mouth, leaving room above it for the insertion of the supplemental stopper. The end of the stem 61 5 should project a little above the rim of the mouth-opening. This stopper should close the mouth tightly. The supplemental stopper 0 has a central hollow core or cavity 6, open at its lower end, but closed at the top end. This stopper fills the mouth-opening a above the primary stopper, and its hollow core 6 takes over the upward-projecting stem d ofv the primary stopper.

The foregoing description applies to the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and also the other form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

. The first form referred to is designed to be made of glass or other non-elastic material.

In this form the primary stopper 1) has on top a cross ridge or head f, and the supplemental v stopper 0 has on its bottom a cross-groove g, which takes over and engages with the said cross-ridge. By this construction of crossridge and cross-groove the lower or primary stopper b may be turned when the upper or supplemental stopper is turned by the hand.

In ground-glass stoppers the ability to thus turn the stopper is desirable, as by so doing the stopper may be made to fit tightly in the mouth-opening.

The form of stopper shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is designed to be made of cork, rubber,wood, or any other slightly-elastic material.

I design to have the primary stopperb col ored to be in contrast with the appearance of the supplemental stopper 0. I prefer red as the distinguishing color for the primary stopper. This color in the lower stopper only will be readily seen when the bottle is standing on a shelf, and is in. itself a feature that serves as a warning to one about to use a poisonbottle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. A bottle-stopper comprising a primary stopper to closely fill the mouth-opening of a bottle and having an upward-projecting stem; and a supplemental stopper which will also closely fill the mouth-opening of a bottle and has a hollow core or cavity open at its lower end but closed at its top end, said core or cavity taking over and inclosing the said upward projecting stem.

2. The combination of a bottle having a mouth-opening slightly tapered; a primary stoppenhaving an upward-projecting stem,

and said stopper setting wholly down within the mouth-opening with the end of the stem projecting above the rim of the mouth-openin g; and a supplemental stopper which closely fills the month-opening above the primary stopper and has a hollow core or cavity open at its lower end but closed at its top end, said core or cavity taking over and inclosing the said upward-projecting stem, the said primary stopper being colored in contrast with the supplemental stopper.

3 The combination ofa bottle having a mouth-opening slightly tapered; a primary stopper having an upward-projecting stem, and said stopper setting wholly down within the mouth-opening and provided on top with a cross ridge or bead; and a supplemental stopper filling the mouth-opening above the primary stopper and having a hollow core or cavity which takes over and incloses the said stem, and provided on its bottom with a crossgroove which engages the said cross ridge or bead.

In testimony whereof I aflfiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HENRY MAHAN. 

